Demna has established a new sportswear partnership, this time with German athletic brand PUMA. The collaboration was unveiled during Balenciaga's runway show at Paris Fashion Week yesterday, marking three years since the controversial adidas partnership that ended in dispute.
The luxury house's Winter 2025 collection incorporated this new capsule line, continuing Balenciaga's ongoing conversation between luxury fashion and athletic wear—a path previously explored through collaborations with adidas and later Under Armour.
The partnership merges Balenciaga's forward-thinking design approach with PUMA's 77-year sporting legacy, dating back to the company's founding by Rudolf Dassler in 1948. The collection's centerpiece is a reimagined version of PUMA's iconic Speedcat shoe, transformed into an "Ultrasoft" variant.
This updated Speedcat features a deconstructed profile where structural elements have been removed to create a more pliable, body-hugging silhouette. The suede upper has an intentionally worn appearance, complemented by PUMA's signature Formstrip logo that has been reinterpreted with a deconstructed aesthetic.
Beyond footwear, the runway presentation included an array of garments and accessories characterized by technical fabrics and exaggerated proportions. These pieces reflect influences from both football and motorsport traditions—core elements of PUMA's heritage—while maintaining Balenciaga's distinctive oversized styling and technical approach to fashion.
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Kristin Kaye
Insatiably curious about human expression, she immerses herself in literature, theater, art, and dance. Her academic journey led to degrees in Modern Literature, where she delved into The Furioso, and Historical Sciences with a focus on Contemporary History. Her studies took her to the prestigious Erasmus University Rotterdam, broadening her international perspective.
Her passion for culture isn't confined to personal enjoyment—it spills onto the pages of various publications. There, she explores not only artistic endeavors but also civil rights issues and the myriad ways human culture manifests itself. For her, writing about these topics isn't just a profession; it's an irresistible calling that stems from her deep-seated fascination with the human experience.